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Does regional block improve outcome after surgery?
1King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth.
Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
|August 1, 1991
Summary
Regional blocks using local anesthetics may improve surgical outcomes, but evidence remains contradictory. This review examines hypotheses and methodology to guide future research on regional block efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Outcomes Research
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- The use of local anesthetics to improve surgical outcomes was first proposed 75 years ago.
- Despite extensive research, the literature presents conflicting evidence regarding the benefits of regional block in surgical patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconcile contradictory findings on the role of regional block in improving surgical outcomes.
- To examine biological hypotheses and clinical research methodology related to regional anesthesia and surgical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of biological hypotheses underpinning the research question.
- Examination of epidemiological and clinical research methodology.
- Synthesis of existing literature on regional block and surgical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Contradictory evidence exists regarding the efficacy of regional block in improving surgical outcomes.
- Biological mechanisms and methodological approaches vary across studies, contributing to conflicting results.
Conclusions:
- Recommendations are provided for designing, planning, and executing future randomized trials.
- Future research should focus on robust methodologies to definitively assess the efficacy of regional block in determining surgical outcomes.